ADD: Fantail Fanny

Subject: Lyr Req: Fantail Fanny
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 12:59 PM

There's no mention of this song in the Mudcat threads or database. Here's what I know about it:

Fantail Fanny

Fantail Fanny, the girl with the quadruple screw…

Notes:

This was composed by an officer aboard the Light Cruiser USS Columbia for a musical show during World War 2, in memory of a visit to Sydney, Australia, from remarks by Captain Charlie Nelson, USN (Ret.), November 24, 2003.

Not to be confused with a nightclub song of the same title: Fanlight Fanny-1935C
Decca F5569 Gifford/Cliffe.

I'm tried some of the bawdy song websites but found nothing so far. I would appreciate any help.

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fantail Fanny
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 03:49 PM

https://destroyerhistory.org/fletcherclass/index.asp?r=4230&pid=4236#

I think that's the article to which Charlie refers. What a hoot.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fantail Fanny
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 04:17 PM

Hi Charlie,   
Here's a link to an E-bay listing - auction ended on 5th Feb, DAMM!- -that contained the lyrics of 29 WW2 songs including FANTAIL FANNY!!

Ebay listing

Try an E-mail to the original seller?? Maybe he copied them??

Jake

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fantail Fanny
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 05:20 PM

Thanks, Jake!

I've sent the seller an e-mail. Sure looks as if he was trying to sell a copy of the manuscript for that song party aboard the Columbia. What a weird world!

Charlie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fantail Fanny
From: GUEST,Charley Noble
Date: 15 Feb 14 - 08:27 PM

This manuscript on e-Bay looks like the real thing. Maybe my $1000 bid will win it!

Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fantail Fanny
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 16 Feb 14 - 01:22 PM

Go!! Charlie Go!!
Shall we pass the hat??

Jake

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Fantail Fanny
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Feb 14 - 04:34 PM

Nabbed it! My thanks to all who didn't bid this manuscript up.

Here are the lyrics:

Fantail Fanny

Fantail Fanny, she's the queen of the fleet;
She's the broad with the quadruple screws;
In her double bottoms she has lots of stuff;
Sailors all will tell you that they never ever get enough
Of Fantail's fanny, she's the queen of the fleet;
She's the broad with the quadruple –
She's naval to her nipples –
She's the broad with the quadruple screws!

Notes:

This song was composed by an officer aboard the Light Cruiser USS Columbia for a musical show during World War 2, in memory of a visit to Sydney, Australia, according to remarks by Captain Charlie Nelson, USN (Ret.) to his fellow retirees, November 24, 2003.

Not to be confused with a nightclub song with a similar title: Fanlight Fanny-1935C
Decca F5569 Gifford/Cliffe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fantail Fanny
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Feb 14 - 04:37 PM

Special thanks to Jake above.

And there are other songs in the manuscript: some regular popular songs, some outrageous parodies, and some that have never seen the light of day since 1945.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fantail Fanny
From: Anglogeezer
Date: 23 Feb 14 - 12:54 PM

I watched the auction Charlie - glad to see you got it!!

Jake

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fantail Fanny
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 09:00 PM

Now that I've scanned the manuscript I'll probably send it off to the Library of Congress with a transcript and some notes. It really is a treasure.

Charlie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fantail Fanny
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Jun 26 - 08:20 PM

Well, the original song was rather brief so I've expanded it and it now has a chorus (CHEERS!):

Lieut. Bob Johnson, circa 1944
USS Columbia, Light Cruiser
Adapted by Charlie Ipcar, 8-13-21
Tune: “The Cows Are Out”
Key: F (5/C)

Fantail Fanny-2

C-------------------------------G--C
Now Fantail Fanny, spread the news,
-----------------------------------G-------C
She's the broad with the qua-druple screws;
--------------F
With her double bottoms she’s got great stuff,
------------------------------------------------C
But sailors will tell you they can’t get e-nough –
----G7--------------------------F---------G--C
Of Fantail Fanny, she's the queen of the fleet.

Chorus:

C-------------------------------------G----C
Fantail Fanny, she's the queen of the fleet,
-----------------------------------------------G-----C
When she comes a-cruisin’ down Shin-bone Street;
--------F
She's broad in the hips and loose in the stays,
-----------------------------------------------C
And if you’re inclined she’ll give fair play –
G7----------------------------F-------G---C
She's the broad, with the quadru-ple screws!

Now late last night we was on a spree
Comes Fantail Fanny surging up a-lee;
She threw out a line and took us in tow,
And to Sailor’s Snug Harbor, like a shot we did go,
With Fantail Fanny, she’s the queen of the fleet! (CHO)

We cruised up an alley and rounded up neat,
Moored fore and aft at the end of the street;
She led us aloft to her cozy flat,
And she laid us o’er for a scintilating chat,
With Fantail Fanny, she’s the queen of the fleet! (CHO)

She offered us whiskey and wine of the best.
We soon were a-sailing to the Isle of the Blest;
The winds were a-blowing, the waves breaking free,
But we was battened down just as snug as could be,
With Fantail Fanny, she’s the queen of the fleet! (CHO)

Now early the next morn, as best as I recall,
There were four drunken sailors piled up in the hall;
We cursed that broad till the heavens turned blue,
And with whiskey and women we swore we was through,
With Fantail Fanny, she’s the queen of the fleet!

Tagline:

But with all of our swearing I’d give my tattoo,
To be back in bed for a quadruple screw!

Cheerily,
Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: ADD: Fantail Fanny
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Jun 26 - 11:34 AM

One of the songs mentioned by Capt. Charlie Nelson in his 2003 presentation is “Sonia, oh, Sonia, of New Caledonia. The belle mademoiselle of the isle"; it is not to be found in the manuscript that I purchased from eBay. I can't find a trace of it anywhere else.

Cheerily,
Charlie Ipcar